A fun second-chance, enemies-to-lovers romance. I flew through this one and really like the author’s writing style.

You don’t have to be a theater nerd to love this romcom! Especially if you’re a 90’s kid, this book is for you. The FMC and MMC went to an arts camp together in their teen years - all we know at the start is that there was a falling out that ruined the FMC’s career in early adulthood and now she has her second chance at fame starring in her best friend’s musical…which happens to be produced by the same man she had the falling out with in early adulthood. It’s messy and it’s fun. Would definitely recommend this second chance romance!

Elissa Sussman does it again! Funny You should Ask sucked me in last year and even on vacation I finished Once More with Feeling in less than a day.

What I loved: the depth at which this author goes to immerse you in the characters lives and their culture is astounding. Not being one to know anything about musical theater, I feel like I got a full education with this book. The book was reminiscent of growing up with 90s/00s Popstar-dom in such a way that it didn’t feel like a copy, but that it felt nostalgic.

What I didn’t love: there wasn’t much, if anything I feel like I lacked hearing Calvin’s side, his backstory and where he had been. The rendezvous with her ex felt a bit cheekier than need be, the “folded arm pout” sent me.

Overall I’m such a Sussman fan, thank you thank you for doing second chance lovers that reunite in their second act of life!

This is not a review I want the author to read.

This is not a review I want someone who loved this book to read.

The person I want to read this review is the editor. My message: Give notes again - but this time, with feeling.

Yes. I am cringing at myself. Don't worry.

This book read like Britney cheated on Justin with JC. Then, met up with him later and wowed Broadway together. Was this supposed to be BOP Fanfiction?

I didn't like a single character. The plot was well-paced. I appreciated the Then/Now timeline. While I love the predictability of an HEA - I could have told you the major plot points of this book after the first 10%.

It was probably my fault for requesting this book from NetGalley based on the author's last book (which is still on my shelf, unread), the clever title, and the cute cover. I should have dug deeper. Second-chance romance isn't my favorite, I also am not a huge musical theater lover.

It's not you, it's me? But, maybe, also you?

This book was a perfect Vacation read. this book is written in vignettes between past and present and Cal & Kathleen's friendship. This story felt realistic and though second chance romance hasn't always been my favorite this and Emily Henry's Happy Place are now moving that trope up higher.

Sussman creates a realistic, laugh out loud funny story of a former popstar feel relatable and keeps you rooting for her.

I DNFed this it was jsut super boring and I'm not going to make myself read this right now when I have thousands of other books I want to read.

Such a fun quick read! This is every high school choir kid/musical nerd’s dream book. I was captivated from the start and drawn into the story with the multi-flash back points between theater camp, height of the pop star career and ten years later trying to get a new Broadway show of the ground with the same core characters. The tension and conflict between the three main characters was palpable and I didn’t want to put it down.

Thank you for the eARC on NetGalley.

Fans of Elissa Sussman have not yet recovered from last year's Funny You Should Ask. In her new novel, teenage pop star Katee Rose has a life in the spotlight as she dates Ryan LaNeve, member of boy band CrushZone. They have a messy (and very public) breakup, and Katee fades from public life. Many years later, another member of CrushZone, Cal, hires Katee to be the lead in a Broadway musical, reigniting her career and possibly an old flame. The story is told in a dual timeline, with the past narrative taking place at a summer theater camp.

First of all, big thanks to Ballantine Books and Random House Publishing Group for gifting me with an ARC of this a few days before its release. It was a super highly anticipated read for me, and I'm so thankful you ended my misery a bit early!

Once More With Feeling is a solid, fun read, very much in the same vein as Sussman's first book (although I do think I prefer Funny You Should Ask).

As a theatre kid myself, and someone who works in the media, AND a New Yorker, I really hesitate before reading books in my world/s because it can be so cringe and awkward if the book gets it wrong... and honestly, NOT the escapism I usually crave, when done correctly. This book, gratefully, establishes its own world entirely. The cast of characters know each other in several different settings and periods of their lives — which is at times difficult to believe, but also messy in a believable way — so the story really revolves around their shared history moreso than the camp / pop star / Y2K / Broadway storylines. Those environments are always a backdrop, with the love story and relationships between the characters being the focus.

This book is not as inventive or satisfyingly analytical as Sussman's first book, although there are lines and notes of deeper meaning that I wish she had explored more. There was so many opportunities for this story to reflect on how the media mistreated women in pop culture, specifically in the 90s / Y2K. I was thinking this book would go there, that we could talk about how the MC is a psuedo Britney figure, but I just felt like the way it was addressed still left me trying to untangle and unpack myself. It still felt so messy. And like... are we not going to talk about the jealousy, pettiness, and cruelty between the story's women? I'm not asking for a "we should all be friends" / "women supporting women" friendship bracelet making moment... but it just shocked me that characters like Rachel could still be written so flat!? She could have been so many other things to the story, and instead, she just felt like the most stereotypical mean girl character come to life. I wanted her to be Regina George or Vivian Kinsington or Sharpay or Rizzo, but she was just a slutty villain for the sake of being a slutty villain. Yuck.

My biggest gripe with the book is Harriet's storyline, though. It felt like she was just kind of there to generate conflict with the MC. They have this one conversation where Harriet goes in wanting one thing and by the end of the conversation, wants the complete opposite. Honestly, I wasn't sold that she was a great friend to Katherine. In fact, she was kind of shitty to her at times. And Katherine too her! I'm not saying we need to write flawless female friendships, because the way they navigate their jealousy with eachother is lowkey #realistic and #relatable. It's moreso the way that they confront their issues has major plot holes, discredits my belief in their friendship as a reader, and is just not resolved in the end. Do we really have to do the gay characters this dirty?!

I'm making this book sound bad. It's not bad. I've just read a lot of similar books recently and this is not my favorite of the bunch. It has potential. Maybe I was just expecting something more reflective and depthier than I got. And you know, it's not fair of me to expect a feminist masterpiece from every rom-com I read. But, I guess given the subject matter AND THE PLOT OF THE MUSICAL AT ITS CORE, I just felt it didn't deliver the media-narrative-shattering, badass, powerful, fun, epic story I was for some reason expecting. And that's ok.

This book is fun. I love the little musical theatre inside jokes. I ship the main couple. I had fun. I honestly feel bad giving it a 3, but I can't quite give it a 4. Definitely will still rec Funny You Should Ask, but again... this one isn't a fave.

Once More With Feeling, Elissa Sussman (5/30/23)

I wanted to like this book, but I found the lead characters to be unlikeable throughout most of the book. Unfortunately, I am the type of reader that needs at least one likeable character that I can cheer for so Once More with Feeling became a struggle for me to finish. However, I did find the book to be well-written and is a good example of the lovers have a misunderstanding/fight and after an extended period of time meet again in a will they wouldn't they scenario.

Thanks to Net Galley and Ballantine for this book.

This might be a controversial opinion, but I liked this even more than "Funny You Should Ask" -- I think it built on the success of the first one in a way that really worked for me. And, being a sucker for a second-chance romance, this played right into my interest. I loved the idea of a pop singer and a boy band singer re-connecting, which is basically just bait for millennials who grew up loving Britney Spears and NSYNC.

My heart is so full after reading this book. Once More With Feeling is Elissa Sussman’s second adult romance book, and the perfect follow up to Funny You Should Ask.

Our main character is Kathleen Rosenberg, a former pop star who’s now attempting to make a comeback in her performing career after it crashed and burned years ago. Earning her dream role in a Broadway-bound show should be the second chance she needs- plus the opportunity to wow the world and perform in ways she was never able to in her pop star days. The only catch? The show is being directed by her “ex” of sorts, the man who had a hand in imploding her career the first time around. Throughout the book, the two juggle keeping their careers afloat with their storied past and deepening feelings for each other in a friends to lovers to enemies to lovers rom-com set against the NYC theatre scene. Once again, Elissa Sussman delivers a five-star, entertaining read!


Thank you Netgalley, Random House Publishing group - Ballantine, and dell for the advanced reader copy.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House for this ARC. I really enjoyed this read! I was skeptical because although I enjoyed Funny You Should Ask, I don’t think I liked it as much as everyone else. To my surprise I loved Once More Than a Feeling even more! The characters were fun, witty, and relatable. Who doesn’t love a good second chance romance? I have been recommending this read to all of my friends and have to keep talking myself out of buying a physical copy because the cover art is AMAZING!!!!!

I was afraid this wouldn't stand up to "Funny You Should Ask," but Elissa Sussman did it again! We spent FYSA in Hollywood, but now we're getting a peek into pop stardom and Broadway. As a theater nerd, this was made for me. Sussman is amazing at realistic, witty dialogue, and knows how to keep a story moving. No spoilers but I found the end very satisfying :) Perfect summer read!

Katee Rose was a successful pop star, who was dating Ryan Nave, a member of the boy band CrushZone. Although she likes her boyfriend, she also has her eye on another CrushZone band member: Cal Kirby. Cal and Katee have been friends since they were children, and have always shared an undeniable connection. After a scandalous night, Katee loses Cal, her career, and Ryan. Fast forward to many years later and Katee is now Kathleen Rose living a quiet life outside of the spotlight. Everything was going fine until she gets the opportunity to star in a Broadway Show that is being directed by Cal. Despite Kathleen's best efforts to ignore her connection to Cal, she just can't get him out of her head.


I was really excited to get the opportunity to read this book after I absolutely loved "Funny You Should Ask." I think this is an excellent follow-up. Kathleen and Cal had amazing chemistry that had me squealing at times. I enjoyed all the references to musical theater! I enjoyed the friendship between Kathleen and Harriett, which demonstrated that friendships have ebbs and flows just like relationship. Overall, I would highly recommend this book, and I can't wait to read it again soon.

Once more with lukewarm feeling.

This book was just okay with me. Celebrity stories can be kind of hit or miss for me and this one was no different. The story was really easy to read and get into, but I didn't feel the connection between the two main characters and wasn't excited to pick up the book.

Free e-ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher!
Okay, I'm about a month late to this one and that's fine because it was... just fine. I really enjoyed Elissa Sussman's first book more- this one didn't work as well with the split timeline (flashbacks to Katee/Kathleen's time at theater camp and as a popstar vs the present day Broadway production). The writing is good and the first 75% of the book flew by, once I was able to get myself into it, but the ending was tough to get through for me- I got the ick with the cheating stuff, and then kind of a rushed wrap-up to the friendship and relationship storylines. Overall, not a bad second chance romance, but it didn't hold up to Funny You Should Ask.

Oh no!!! Listen...I wanted to love this...so much...Funny You Should Ask was one of my favorite reads last year and I was so looking forward to this. I'm not sure if it's the theater aspect (musicals are not my thing other than Moulin Rouge), but it just fell so flat for me :( No one is more devasted about this than me. I think my main problem is the believeability of the relationship between Kathleen and Cal. The past and present wasn't working all that great with me, and the hatred between them in the present tense felt so..weak? I also didn't feel much of their chemistry for one another. It felt like there was a lot missing in between the lines. I kind of kept thinking...is this it? But even them arguing just felt like...people yelling at each other on paper. I couldn't envision it in my mind like I normally can. For a story about a musical, it felt like I couldn't grasp any of the passion coming from the page.

I will say, this still had all of the quirks and makings of an Elissa Sussman novel and I'm still a die hard fan. While I'm not overly sold on this one, I can't imagine not reading her in the future. I think this WAS fun and lively for the right reader. But it truly didn't feel like it was for me? It's like me, the story, and the characters didn't have the same interests and I didn't particularly see myself in any of them, so I think the connection to the story was just lost.

I'm so sorry, Once More with Feeling, it's not you. IT"S ME!!

Elissa Sussman, pls still love me. I still love you.

I loved Sussman's last book so I eagerly awaited her new book with batted breath. I was not disappointed. I enjoyed this newest story even more than I thought possible. Kathleen and Cal for life!

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Dell, and NetGalley for providing an eARC for a honest review.

This is a fun romance novel that follows two people that were famous in the 90s as a Britney Spears-like pop star and a boy band member. It goes back and forth between three timelines. In the present they reconnect to make a Broadway musical. Another timeline follows their pop career in the 90s. And the third timeline shows how they met at theater camp as teens. I loved all the theater references and 90s pop stuff. It was a fun super quick read. Elissa Sussman's books are so addicting because I always can wait to see what happens in each timeline in order to put the pieces together of the other story.

(Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for a digital ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.)